
Vanisri, (born Rathna Kumari) is an Indian film actress known for her works predominately in Telugu and Tamil, and a few Kannada and Hindi films. In a film career spanning forty years, she has received three Filmfare Awards South, including the Nandi Awards and the Tamil Nadu State Film Award. She gained attention with a supporting role in a film penned by K. Balachander titled Sukha Dukhalu, and Marapurani Kadha (1967). Vanisri has starred in super hits such as Krishnaveni, Prem Nagar, Dussehra Bullodu, Aradhana, Jeevitha Chakram, Rangula Ratnam, Sri Krishna Tulabharam, Bhakta Kannappa, Bobbili Raja, etc. If there was a star heroine in the Telugu film industry, who ruled on par with the heroes, it must be only Vanisri. She was the only actress during that period who commanded a higher remuneration than her male co stars. She played dual roles in Iddaru Ammayilu (1972) (Telugu remake of 1969 release Kannada film Kappu Bilupu), Ganga Manga (1973 remake of the Hindi film Seeta Aur Geeta), Jeevana Jyothi (1975), and Chilipi Krishnudu (1978). She financed and starred in Shyam Benegal's only Telugu film Anugraham (1977), co-starring Smita Patil. She acted with Sivaji Ganesan in a number of films such as Uyarntha Manithan (1968), Nirai Kudam (1969), Vasantha Maligai (1972), Sivakamiyin Selvan (1974), Vani Rani (Tamil remake of the Hindi film Seeta Aur Geeta) (1974) and Nallathoru Kudumbam (1979). In 2013, she received the state Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for her contribution to Telugu cinema. In the late 1970s, Vanisri left films to get married and have a son and a daughter. Vanisri returned to film in the late 1980s acting in mother roles, such as her character in Athaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu (1989). A practicing Shaivite Hindu, Vanisri is very religious. She was also in the 1999 Hindi film Main Tere Pyar Mein Pagal, directed by Telugu director K. Raghavendra Rao.

లక్ష్మి నివాసం

कोन्दुरा

ఆకాశ రామన్న

உயர்ந்த மனிதன்

అత్తకి యముడు అమ్మాయికి మొగుడు

శ్రీమద్విరాట పర్వము

ఆమె ఎవరు?

ಕಾಸಿದ್ರೆ ಕೈಲಾಸ

పాండవ వనవాసము

வசந்த மாளிகை

நல்லதொரு குடும்பம்

జగత్ కంత్రీలు

Peddinti Alludu

బంగారు బాబు

బొబ్బిలి రాజా

कुलमा कुणमा

నిండు హృదయాలు

అగ్ని

వింత కథ

జీవన జ్యోతి

Annaiyum Pithavum

Vani Rani

Vichitra Jeevitham

Adi Parasakthi

ఎదురీత

Velli Vizha

Thalaivan

Kannan En Kadhalan

గోరంత దీపం

బొంబాయి ప్రియుడు

అగ్గి బరట

మావారి మంచితనం

సతీ సావిత్రి

ಪಾತಾಳ ಮೋಹಿನಿ

Allari Alludu

நியாயத் தராசு

ஆயிரம் பொய்

ప్రేమనగర్

நிறைகுடம்

ఎదురులేని మనిషి

చెల్లెలి కాపురం

ప్రైవేటు మాస్టారు

Dasara Bullodu

Aastiparulu

Bangaru Panjaram

Sri Vinayaka Vijayamu

మంగమ్మ శపథం

ఆత్మీయులు

Rampur Ka Raja

Warning To Youth

కన్నె మనసులు

Jeevitha Chakram

భక్త కన్నప్ప